Monterey Peninsula Water News
Cal Am, board criticize order: State water panel to decide if it should take action against company
Monterey Herald, July 24, 2008
Attorneys for California American Water and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District on Wednesday attacked the practicality of a proposed cease-and-desist order against the water company.

No ruling on Cal Am compliance:Water company president defends efforts to reduce river pumping
Monterey Herald, June 21, 2008
SACRAMENTO — California American Water's top official on Friday responded to allegations the company has failed to comply with state water codes to reduce pumping from the Carmel River for the last 13 years by presenting what he says is a long track record that demonstrates otherwise.

State looks at Cal Am's use of Carmel River water: Carmel River: Company says it hasn't done anything wrong
Monterey Herald, June 20, 2008
SACRAMENTO — The state Water Resources Control Board is trying to determine if California American Water has violated water rights law for the past 13 years by taking more water than allowed from the Carmel River. In what is essentially a court trial, the board's hearings committee Thursday began listening to arguments to determine if Cal Am has violated the law.

Cal Am defends river pumping - Carmel River: State sets hearings
Monterey Herald, June 1, 2008
Thirteen years after the state ordered it to develop a new water source and strictly limit its pumping from the Carmel River, California American Water will essentially face trial this month to determine if it has violated the decree.

Cal Am to sell Felton system: Water district agrees to $10.5M deal
Monterey Herald, May 31, 2008
FELTON — California American Water has tentatively agreed to sell the Felton water system to the San Lorenzo Valley Water District for $10.5 million, signaling the likely end of a six-year David and Goliath fight between a grass-roots citizens group and the former multinational corpora

Desalination Newsletter
85% of all water utilities in the U.S. are publicly owned. Local control and ownership of the Monterey Peninsula's water system will benefit everyone and keep water affordable for generations to come.

The North Monterey County Water Management District (Sunny Mesa) has proposed developing a desalination plant on the former National Refractories site in Moss Landing. Click here to download the newsletter that provides information on the plant and why this proposal is superior to the proposed private desalination plant.

Dam pushing trout to brink
By JOHN G. WILLIAMS - Guest commentary
Monterey Herald, April 4, 2008
ixty years ago, when I was a boy and artichokes grew where Mission Fields and the Crossroads now stand, there were still a lot of steelhead in the Carmel River.

Faceoff in pumping limits plan: Peninsula officials have chance to plead case Tuesday
Monterey Herald, March 31, 2008
Local mayors have lined up against it. Politicians are recommending alternatives. And the state Water Resources Control board is expected to get an earful about its proposed cease-and-desist order to California American Water that would slow the pumping of well water from the Carmel River aquifer when the board meets Tuesday in Monterey.

Performing under water pressure
Monterey Herald, March 25, 2008 - Guest Commentary
The Peninsula water supply is regulated by many agencies. One is the very powerful State Water Resources Control Board, which issued the famous Order 95-10 in 1995 that demanded reduced drafting of water from the Carmel River. The state board recently issued another order, a draft cease-and-desist order that, in effect, is shouting out. "We warned you! Your actions are insufficient! We are intervening!"

Reservoir may be reactivated: P.G. OKs study on recycling rainwater
Monterey Herald, March 25, 2008
California American Water's empty reservoir in Pacific Grove could become a catch basin for storm water runoff and a source of irrigation water for the city's golf course and parks.

Monterey Peninsula water district chief moving to Cal Am: David Berger to oversee desalination, dam projects
Monterey Herald, March 7, 2008
The head of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District is leaving the public sector to join California American Water as the man in charge of its coastal water programs.

Click here for past local water news

Citizens for Public Water promotes public ownership of Monterey Peninsula desalination plant
Citizens for Public Water is urging Monterey Peninsula residents to contact their county supervisors and urge them to abide by existing law and require that any desalination plant serving the region be publicly owned.

Here are some public comments on the issue:

"Water is a basic human right. Water should be managed by a public entity whose mission is to provide safe and affordable water to all citizens rather than a private corporation whose mission is to increase profits for its shareholders."

~ Sue Hubbard, Salinas

"Supervisors need to be reminded that they were elected to represent the PEOPLE, NOT private corporations."

~ Larry Parrish, Carmel Valley

"Same song 'next verse' should be better, but now it's worse! Supes want to jeopardize control of our water! Shut out back room deals!"

~ Jan Mitchell, Prunedale Neighbors Group

"More than 85% of Americans get their water from public agencies; only 15% from the private sector. We are among the minority of ratepayers whose rates include profits for the shareholders of a multinational corporation? What's wrong with this picture?"

~ Stefani Mistretta, Seaside

"Since Public and future generations share an inalienable interest in the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, doesn't it seem patently obvious that precious Monterey Bay Waters and any proposed desalination project remain in Public Ownership and not bartered away as a corporate commodity by a few bureaucrats behind closed doors?"

~ Roderic McMahan, Cachagua

Click here for more public comments on public ownership.

Photo of Carmel River in Monterey FLOW Coalition masthead is courtesy of Paola Berthoin. Cal-Am has repeatedly been cited for overpumping the Carmel River.